title: Beneficial effects of Annona squamosa extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of Annona squamosa (A. squamosa) extract on certain biochemical markers in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of an aqueous extract of A. squamosa leaves on blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea, uric acid and creatinine and the activities of diagnostic marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were examined in the plasma, liver and kidney tissues of control and experimental groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of A. squamosa (300 mg/kg) aqueous extract to diabetic rats for 30 days significantly reduced blood glucose, urea, uric acid and creatinine, but increased the activities of insulin, C-peptide, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio and restored all marker enzymes to near control levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results shown that A. squamosa extract has an antihyperglycaemic effect and consequently may alleviate liver and renal damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaleem
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Medha
authors.forename: Q U
authors.initials: QU
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asif
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bano
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D031041:Annona / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin